Pongamia plant named &#39;K140&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘K140’ is a new  pongamia  plant distinguished by having consistent and abundant production of exceptionally large seed pods, coupled with a very high oil content of the seeds.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘K140’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of pongamia plant (Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre) named ‘K140.’ ‘K140’ was discovered by the inventors growing in a cultivated area in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, wherein it and neighboring trees are grown for shade and other landscape amenities. The parentage of this tree is unknown, as is typical for trees cultivated in landscape plantings of this type.

‘K140’ has been reproduced asexually through vegetative cuttings.

‘K140’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct variety of pongamia tree (Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre), named ‘K140’, which is distinctly characterized by unusual pendulous branches arching downward from a dense, spreading crown, large seed pods with exceptionally large seeds (2.1 g) containing high seed-oil content (41.4%, dry-weight basis) and annual (or nearly so) production of large quantities of pods. ‘K140’ demonstrates excellent vigor and is reasonably resistant to insect and disease pests.

The original donor tree (and source of clonal material) was identified and selected primarily on the basis of its consistent production of large and abundant seed pods, coupled with the high oil content (41.4%, dry-weight basis) of its large seeds. This selected individual was assigned identity number ‘K140.’ Subsequently, branch cuttings were collected from the donor tree and rooted by treating the cuttings with the rooting hormone indolebutyric acid (IBA) using either an aqueous solution of IBA (500 ppm) or a commercially available rooting powder. Dehydration of the cuttings was avoided by placing them in moistened rooting medium within a humid enclosed chamber. Rooting success varies from one collection event to another, which is normal for cuttings from mature trees. Typically 10% or more of the cuttings initiated root development within 3-4 weeks. Cuttings have been rooted in the Brisbane area of Australia, as well as in Texas, U.S.A. These asexually propagated rooted cuttings remain true-to-type, and show considerable resemblance among one another, after accounting for differences for variation in overall size of the cuttings from which the individual plants were derived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new pongamia tree is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form, branches, foliage, leaves, trunk, pods, and seeds. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1—shows an overview of ‘K140’ as seen from the street, demonstrating the downward-arching branchlets on the perimeter of the crown. The crown has been periodically pruned to accommodate utility lines.

FIG. 2—shows the smooth gray bark on the main trunk. Mottled patches of lighter and darker gray primarily reflect differences in lichen growth.

FIG. 3—shows a terminal shoot from the current year's growth. Shown are seven compound leaves along the length of the shoot.

FIG. 4—shows pinnately compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets. Leaflets are elliptic to ovate in shape with a cuspidate apex. Leaflet venation tends to be arcuate. The terminal leaflet is roughly equal in size to the lateral leaflets.

FIG. 5—shows five mature seed pods (aligned in the top row), ready for harvest and 3 seeds (bottom row). Seed pods are bilaterally symmetrical in outline, with an acuminate apical hook pointing towards the left, away from the ventral suture (where developing seeds are attached). Also shown is an immature seed pod (arrow). The reddish-brown seeds (bottom row) are somewhat variable in size. Larger seeds are typically found in larger pods.

FIG. 6—shows two unbranched fruit clusters showing immature pods attached to their respective central rachis. Most fruiting structures are unbranched, but some branched fruiting structures are also observed.

FIG. 7—shows a section of a current year's shoot illustrating corky plumes (arrow) subtending a leaf node.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘K140.’

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Fabaceae.         -   Botanical.—Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre; also called             Millettia pinnata (L) Panigrahi, Derris indica (Lam.)             Bennet, Pongamia glabra Vent, and Cytisus pinnatus (L).         -   Common name.—Pongam tree, or pongam oiltree.         -   Cultivar name.—‘K140’. -   Plant description: -   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Vigorous tree of substantial size and stature, 16 m in             height. Crown diameter, measured at the drip-line in two             dimensions, is 12.4×12.2 m.         -   Trunk.—The arched main stem first branches at a height of             2.4 m from the ground and subsequently branches several more             times shortly above. Breast-height diameter of the trunk is             25 cm. Tree crowns and trunks continue to grow as trees age.             The trunk shows evidence of epicormic branches that have             been removed by pruning.         -   Bark.—Smooth, grey, with lighter grey flecks and some             mottling.         -   Form.—Decurrent crown form, with deep-green foliage. Outer             pendulous branches are distinctly downward-arching and             drooping. The crown has been modestly pruned periodically to             prevent unwanted interference with overhead utility lines. -   Branches: The largest branches are nearest the ground, located just     under 2.4 m from the ground. Their color closely resembles the color     of the main stem.     -   -   Branching habit.—Many branched limbs. Growth and size of             lateral branches are considerably less than that of the main             branches. Many smaller branches occur higher in the crown.         -   Shoots and twigs.—Terminal buds are absent. Young shoots             emerge from naked lateral buds, with the most distal bud             giving rise to a terminal shoot.         -   Terminal shoots.—The seasonal elongation of terminal shoots             is substantial. In the outer portions of the crown, these             branches are long and slender, and distinctly downward             arching. Internodes between leaves are long, averaging 6.7             cm.         -   Lateral shoots.—Seasonal elongation of lateral shoots is             considerably shorter than for terminal shoots.         -   Shoot and twig surfaces.—Woody twigs have leaf scars that             are 5.5-6.0 mm wide, showing traces of three vascular             bundles. The central scar tends to have a border that is             less distinct than the outer two. The youngest shoots are             distinctly green and flexible, with no lenticels apparent to             the naked eye. As shoots mature, their color shifts from             green to tan and prominent lenticels become visible as             raised light-colored corky circles approximately 1.5 mm in             diameter. Distinctive corky plumes subtend both sides of the             leaf nodes on the current year's shoots. -   Leaves: Pinnately compound leaves bearing typically 5-7 deep-green     leaflets. Leaves are arranged alternately along the stem.     -   -   Size and shape.—The outline of a compound leaf is roughly             oval to elliptic, with a length of 19.7 to 27.5 cm (average             23.7 cm) and a width of 15.0 to 23.0 cm (average 19.2 cm).         -   Leaflets.—Blades of individual leaflets range from elliptic             to (less frequently) ovate in shape with a cuspidate apex             and acute bases. Blades of terminal leaflets range in width             from 4.5 to 7.0 cm (average 5.8 cm) and in length from 7.9             to 11.4 cm (average 9.5 cm). The smallest leaflets on a leaf             tend to be basal, ranging in width from 3.1 to 5.6 cm             (average 4.5 cm) and in length from 4.9 to 9.3 cm (average             7.1 cm).         -   Leaflet color, surface, and texture.—Leaflets are glabrous             on both abaxial and adaxial surfaces. Young leaves exhibit a             strikingly glossy cuticle on their adaxial surface. The             abaxial surface is a lighter green and is less glossy.             Leaflets turn a darker shade of green as they age and become             increasingly sclerophyllous.         -   Stipules.—A pair of small stipules subtends the youngest             leaves on a shoot. They remain for only a short duration             before they dehisce. -   Flowers and inflorescences: Hermaphroditic florets are borne on an     indeterminate inflorescence.     -   -   Inflorescence structure.—Several florets are clustered into             a fascicle node, which are more-or-less evenly distributed             along a rachis. The entire inflorescence is a pseudoraceme.             Most inflorescences are unbranched, but some are branched.         -   Position in crown.—As many as 3-4 inflorescences per branch             are borne in the basal leaf axils of the current year's             vegetative flush, near the distal end of the prior year's             shoot growth. Inflorescences are observed on both terminal             and lateral shoots. An average unbranched inflorescence             encompasses 35-45 florets, averaging 38. Branched             infloresences encompass up to 63 florets. Flower clusters             tend to be most common towards the outer surface of the             crown.         -   Florets.—Emerge acropetally from an ovoid calyx. Zygomorphic             florets consist of 5 pinkish-white petals: 2 keel, 2 wing,             and a standard (or banner) petal.         -   Flowering period.—Relative to other pongamia trees in the             general area, ‘K140’ tends to flower about mid-range into             the flowering period (from November to December in Brisbane,             Australia). -   Fruits: Seed pods usually bear a single seed. An underdeveloped (and     much smaller) seed is also observed in some pods.     -   -   Shape and color.—Developing fruits first appear as             dark-green flattened pods, expanding in size into lighter             green and eventually tan-colored woody pods.         -   Crown distribution.—Pods can occur throughout the crown, but             are most prevalent towards the outer portions of the crown.         -   Fruit clusters.—Pods occur in clusters of 1-4 in poorer seed             years, and 2-10 in better seed years. Pods within a cluster             are connected by the rachis of the inflorescence from which             they developed.         -   Dimensions.—Pods are exceptionally large, ranging in size             from 42-62 mm long, by 27-38 mm wide, by 8-11 mm thick,             averaging 50×30×10 mm. Bilaterally symmetrical pods range in             shape from oval to half-moon and are somewhat flattened             along the dorsal side. The acuminate apical hook points away             from the ventral suture (where developing seeds are             attached). Intact pods (i.e. with seeds) average 4.2 g in             weight. Fruits begin to ripen in late October (in Brisbane,             Australia), about 10 months after flowering. -   Seeds: Typically borne singly in pods. Sometimes an aborted (and     much smaller) seed occurs alongside a fully-formed seed.     -   -   Seed coat.—Seeds are covered by a thin seed coat that is             usually dark- to reddish-brown.         -   Seed size.—Exceptionally large seeds in a size range from             22-29 mm long, by 17-24 mm wide, by 6-9 mm thick, averaging             25×20×7 mm. Average seed weight is 2.1 g.         -   Seed oil.—Oil content is higher than average, relative to             other pongamia trees, at 41% oil on a dry-weight basis.         -   Nut crop.—Regular bearer.         -   Crop frequency.—Most pongamia trees rarely produce abundant             nut crops across multiple years, instead bearing fruit             biennially or less frequently. ‘K140’ is unusual in that it             bears fruit and seeds during most years.         -   Ripening.—Fruit ripening begins in late October and extends             into December. If undisturbed, pods remain in the crown for             several weeks after they ripen. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre called ‘K140’ as shown and described herein. 